Chuck for twisting and cabling yarns



April 10, 1962 w. P. HOUK CHUCK FOR TWISTING AND CABLING YARNS Filed July 29, 1959 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,028,720 CHUCK FOR TWISTING AND CABLING YARNS Warren P. Honk, Pensacola, Fla, assignor to The Cliem-.

strand Corporation, Decatur, Ala., a corporation of The present invention relates to rotatable chucks which are useful in the twisting and cabling of cords or strands of yarn.

The chuck or cord holding device of this invention can be employed with advantage in any operation involving the twisting of yarn strands such as in the production of rope, cordage, twine, etc. It, however, provides a particular advantage when employed as an adjunct to laboratory devices which are used for testing the twist characteristics of yarn. Frequently, it is necessary to impart twist to or remove twist from yarn cord in carrying out certain laboratory control and experimental work, and laboratory twist-testing apparatus is available for this purpose. Such apparatus is normally employed, for example, in instances where it is desired to make determinations of the effect of a given number of twists on the length of yarn cord under tension, or to study the effect on length by removal of a ceratin amount of twist from previously twisted yarn cord.

The twist-testing instruments which are generally employed in the conduct of the aforementioned laboratory work are provided with a conventional clamp device for holding one end of a test cord while the opposing end is fastened to a Weighted sliding arm in such manner that the test cord is held tautand under tension. Twisting or untwisting of the test cord is accomplished by rotating the clamp holding one end of the test cord in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction respectively, and measurements of change in length can be made by observing the extent of movement of the sliding arm to which the opposing end is fastened.

In certain twist-testing procedures a twist is first imparted to a length of test cord and thereafter it is necessary to double the cord for a further twisting or untwisting in the doubled condiion. It is in the practice of this procedure which causes difiiculties, since in order to secure the cord end which has been doubled back the conventional clamp means for holding the cord ends must be opened to accommodate both ends. During this operation neither end of the length of test cord is secured and the resultant relief of tension on the test cord causes a troublesome knotting thereof.

it is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a chuck adapted for rotation and to which the ends of one or more strands of yarn can be secured independently.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a rotatable chuck which is capable of holding a plurality of yarn strands at the center of rotation thereof.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the laboratory twist-testing apparatus with which the chuck of this invention has particular application;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the chuck of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the device of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the device of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the device of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FlGURE 1 a type of laboratory twist-testing device with which the chuck device of the present invention can be employed with particular advantage. The twist-testing device of FIGURE 1 is provided with manually operated driving means for rotating chuck 18 which include a crank 14 operatively associated with a drive-shaft 42, and wherein the crank and associated drive-shflt are mounted on frame 12. A length of yarn test cord 20 is shown in a doubled condition wherein it is connected to a slidable arm 16 having a gradient scale by passage through a ring or other means such as eyelet 16a, and wherein both ends are secured to chuck 18, preferably in a manner such as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4. Arm 16 is mounted in track 24 which in turn is secured to frame 48. Thus, arm 16 is capable of slidable movement in a forward and backward direction along track 24. Cable 59 connects arm 16 with weight 22 and passes over pulley 26. Pulley 26 rotates on shaft 26a which is in turn mounted on frame 48.

In a particular operation of the twist-testing apparatus as illustrated in FIGURE 1, crank 14 is turned to provide the driving force for rotating chuck 18 which in turn imparts a twist to test cord 20. The resulting take-up in the length of test cord 26 resulting from the twisting thereof against the tension of weight 22 is determined by reference to the gradient scale on movable arm 16.

Referring now to the details of chuck 18, as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, there is shown grooved cord guides 28 and 39 extending inwardly from the same end of the chuck in a manner such that each guide forms one angle of approximately 34 with a horizontal plane taken thru the axis of rotation of the chuck and a second angle of approximately with a vertical plane taken also through the center of rotationof the chuck. By this arrangement each of the cords running through the guides are held at the center of rotation of the chuck. It is to be understood that the particular angles formed by the cord guides as described hereinabove are not critical but can be modified to other proportions, and that the chuck of this invention can be provided with two or more cord guides.

A number of threaded apertures with oppositely opposed counterparts on either side of the chuck are provided such as 32 and 34. Thus, means are provided for receiving in threadable engagement suitable screw and washer means such as 36 on both of the opposing sides of chuck i8 for purposes of enabling the attachment of both ends of cord to the chuck as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4-. A retaining pin 38 is provided adjacent to each aperture for engaging a suitable catch 38a on each washer to prevent movement thereof. An axial bore 40 is pro vided at the end of the chuck opposite from the cord guides 23 and 3t for receiving drive shaft l-Z. A threaded aperture 44 is provided perpendicular to the bore 46 for I threadably engaging set screw 46 which locks chuck 18 on' drive shaft 42.

In a specific application, which can be readily understood by reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, one end of cord 20 is secured to chuck 18 at one side thereof by screw and washer means 36. The cord is then carried through guide slot 28 and passed to slidable arm 16. From slidable arm l6, cord 20 is doubled back to the chuck where the free end is carried through guide 3t) and sub sequently secured on the opposite side of the chuck to the first end and in like manner. It is thus seen that the chuck of this invention is capable of holding a plurality of cords at the center of rotation thereof with the cord ends independently secured.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment of this invention is amenable to many modifications. Consequently, the intent is to coverall such changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A rotatable chuck adapted for holding a plurality of yarn strands at the center of rotation thereof comprising an elongated member having a pair of cord guides integral therewith and emerging from a common point at the center of one end of said member, each of said guide means forming an angle of the same magnitude with a horizontal plane taken thru the axis of rotation of said member and an angle of the same magnitude with a vertical plane taken thru the axis of rotation of said member, means mounted on said member and operatively associated with said guides for individually securing a plurality of cords on said member along said guides, and means integral with said member for attaching a drive shaft thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cline Nov. 15, Bates Aug. 31, Fouider Aug. 9, Amsler June 10, Scott Aug. 12, Beers Oct. 18, Burke et a1. Dec. 9, Temple June 15, Hannan et a1 Feb. 15, Larsen Nov. 16, Lowney Aug. 28, Briscoe May 10, 

